bionic

adjective

bi·​on·​ic bī-ˈä-nik How to pronounce bionic (audio)
1
: of or relating to bionics
2
: having normal biological capability or performance enhanced by or as if by electronic or electromechanical devices

Did you know?

The science of bionics uses knowledge about how biological systems work to help solve engineering problems. The material Velcro, for example, was inspired by the way burrs behave when they stick to your clothes, and some computer chips are now wired in ways that imitate the "wiring" of the brain and nervous system. But in popular use, the adjective bionic almost always describes artificial limbs or other bodily parts that work as much like real ones as possible. A perfect bionic arm would move and function as easily as a real arm—a goal we're rapidly getting closer to.

Examples of bionic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And what a cornucopia of strange items are on offer: night vision sunglasses; an endoscopic camera light; a big toe straightener; and bionic leaf disguise uniform. Drew Bernstein, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 Musk’s goal for Neuralink is to prevent a future AI apocalypse by making our brains bionic. Parmy Olson, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2024 This beautiful iPad has a 10.2-inch Retina display, an A13 bionic chip, and front and back cameras. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 4 Jan. 2024 For example, myoelectric (bionic) limbs rely on sensors that lie flesh with your muscles to move. Chloé Valentine Toscano, Allure, 30 Nov. 2023 But there may be some challenges to the success of the bionic beasts, Zoologist Nobuyuki Yamaguchi of the University of Malaysia, Terengganu, told ABC News. Anthony Trotter, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2023 Since beginning the use of the bionic arm in mid-2019, Karin has attested to an improved daily life. Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 13 Oct. 2023 Most bionic limbs are controlled by electrical signals generated by muscles moving near the attachment site. Simon Makin, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2023 This iPad has never really been used, so the A10 bionic chip hasn’t experienced any real wear and tear and the 3GB of RAM remains fresh. Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bionic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bionic was in 1961

Dictionary Entries Near bionic

Cite this Entry

“Bionic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bionic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bionic

adjective
bi·​on·​ic bī-ˈän-ik How to pronounce bionic (audio)
1
: of or relating to bionics
2
: having the normal biological ability to perform a physical task increased by special devices

Medical Definition

bionic

adjective
bi·​on·​ic bī-ˈän-ik How to pronounce bionic (audio)
1
: of or relating to bionics
2
a
: having normal biological capability or performance enhanced by or as if by electronic or electromechanical devices
b
: comprising or made up of artificial body parts that enhance or substitute for a natural biological capability
a bionic heart
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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